New leadership will be taking the helm in District 1 on the Henry County Board of Commissioners after incumbent Warren Holder was defeated in July’s primary.

Republican candidate Bo Moss won the election on his four-point platform of wanting to bring good jobs and a diverse economy to the county; stopping “out-of-control” spending and not raising taxes; addressing traffic congestion and creating an open and transparent government.

Moss said bringing higher paying jobs to the area will keep residents from leaving, which will help ease commuter traffic, but he would like to approach the state for help in improving infrastructure. As far as spending, he said he would rather see spending pulled back on luxury items, such as parks, rather than raising taxes.

“As a conservative Republican, I pledge not to raise your taxes,” he said.

To promote transparency, Moss said he would like to have town hall meetings on a quarterly basis, and special town hall meetings before the commission votes on major issues.

A 26-year resident whose family has lived in the county for more than 100 years, Moss said he has a servant’s heart. He has been involved in community service for years, including Toys for Tots, March of Dimes, Relay for Life and helping establish the county’s Veterans Wall of Honor. He also has owned his own flooring business for 33 years.

Political newcomer James C. Mays will face Moss in November.

The Democratic candidate four-pronged platform covers fiscal responsibility, economic development, transportation and public safety, and he said he feels his background as an attorney, college professor and his education in business administration make him the best candidate to tackle those items.

“Henry County has a $10 million deficit that I believe was created by making the wrong decisions at the wrong times,” he said.

Mays said economic development is vital as a means to increase revenue for the county without having to raise taxes on residents. “This is the solution, I believe, to the fiscal responsibility problem,” he said.

Going hand-in-hand with economic development, county roads need widening to accommodate existing and future traffic. He said he hopes to pursue public-private partnerships to improve infrastructure if the government funds are not there. Finally, Mays said public safety personnel — as well as all other county employees — deserve the pay increases they haven’t gotten in five years. He said when pay increases are not given, salaries are perceived to be better in other areas. This results in Henry County citizens paying for the training of officers who then leave the county.

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